Apple Launches iTunes Match Website Complete With FAQ, Video Walkthrough, And More

Apple launched their iTunes Match service late last month in the U.S. and recently launched the service in 17 other countries, but a slew of questions and launch problems (mainly huge demand) created a certain level of uncertainty in users. Apple launched a dedicated iTunes Match site to help alleviate this uncertainty and answer common questions.

The iTunes Match website includes pricing information, an explanation of how the service works, a quick start guide, walkthrough video, and the following FAQ:

Who can use iTunes Match?
Anyone with an Apple ID in the U.S and select other countries can use iTunes Match. You also need iTunes 10.5.1 or later on your Mac or PC and iOS 5.0.1 or later on your iPhone 3GS or later, iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation), or iPad.

Which music formats can iTunes Match handle?
You can match or upload music formats that can be played with iTunes. That includes AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless, and more.

How many devices can iTunes Match support?
iTunes Match supports up to 10 devices — including your computer, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV.

Will my playlists sync across devices?
Yes. When you create, edit, or delete a playlist on your Mac, PC, iPhone, or iPad, those changes will sync across any iTunes Match-enabled device you own. However, playlists with videos, voice memos, or PDF files will not sync.

Does iTunes Match stream or download songs?
On a computer, any songs stored in iCloud will stream over the air when played, though you can download them at any time by clicking the iCloud download button. iOS devices will start playing tracks from iCloud as they download and will store them so that you can listen to them later even if you don’t have a network connection. Apple TV only streams songs.

Will iTunes Match songs download over 3G on my iOS device?
Yes. Go to Settings > Store on your device. Turn on Use Cellular Data. If you’d rather download over Wi-Fi, turn it off.

What if I add new music to my library? Do I need to tell iTunes Match to scan it?
No. iTunes Match will automatically rescan for content, so you don’t have to. Although you can force a refresh by choosing Store > Update iTunes Match in iTunes.

What happens if I don’t resubscribe after the first year? Will I lose any upgraded songs?
No. Any songs you’ve upgraded or downloaded again are completely safe. The only thing you lose is the central storage — iCloud will no longer stream or download matched or uploaded songs to your devices.

How do I turn iTunes Match on?
On a Mac or PC, open iTunes and choose Store >Turn On iTunes Match. Then turn on your iOS devices, tap Settings > Music > Turn On iTunes Match. To turn on iTunes Match on Apple TV, go to Music > iCloud Library.

Does the Apple ID I use for iTunes Match have to be an iCloud account?
No. If you’ve been using a separate Apple ID for purchases, that Apple ID will also work for iTunes Match. You should use the Apple ID that is associated with the majority of your music purchases.

Honestly a dedicated iTunes Match page would have been nice from the start, but FAQs by their nature can’t be put together until after the launch of a product or service. Hopefully the FAQ above, and the rest of dedicated site do a better job of informing consumers about iTunes Match and the service’s capabilities.